A's call up Cotton, shake up rotation for Yankees series

A's call up Cotton, shake up rotation for Yankees series

NEW YORK -- The A's announced a shakeup in their starting rotation, with Sean Manaea moving up a day to pitch Friday's series opener against the Yankees in place of Kendall Graveman.

In addition, Jharel Cotton will be called up to start Saturday afternoon.

Graveman is experiencing more soreness in his throwing shoulder, manager Bob Melvin said before Friday's game. The right-hander is scheduled to see a doctor in the Bay Area, and both he and Jesse Hahn (strained triceps) are likely to hit the disabled list. Neither pitcher is with the team in New York.

Graveman, the A's Opening Night starter, seemed fine coming out of his last start, but Melvin said he experienced discomfort in his shoulder following a recent bullpen session. Graveman missed 10 games on the DL earlier this season with a shoulder strain, and given that a problem has surfaced for a second time, Melvin said: "This DL (stint) is gonna take longer, if indeed he goes on the DL."

There was a mild bit of good news in that Hahn underwent an MRI for his triceps issue that showed no structural damage.

Cotton arrived at Yankee Stadium about 4:15 p.m. local time, saying one of his focuses while down with Triple-A Nashville was pitching inside more effectively.

"It could help my changeup, open up the outside corner," Cotton said.

Melvin said the team would likely wait a day or two before announcing Hahn's replacement in the rotation.

Oakland agreed to a one-year deal with Trevor Cahill, nearly 12 years after the A's drafted him in the second round.

Cahill pitched for Oakland from 2009-11. He started 96 games in three seasons with the A's, going 40-35 with a 3.91 ERA and 1.32 WHIP. Since Oakland traded him to the Arizona Diamondbacks in Dec. 2011, Cahill's pitched for six teams.

The 30-year-old won a World Series ring with the Chicago Cubs in 2016, and pitched for the San Diego Padres and Kansas City Royals last season. In 2017, he went 4-3 in 21 appearances (14 starts) with a 4.93 ERA and 1.62 WHIP.

Cotton, 26, went 9-10 with a 5.58 ERA in 2017 after a rookie season in which he went 2-0 with a 2.15 ERA in five starts. Leading up to the injury, he was 0-1 with a 3.75 ERA over four appearances in spring training.